Communication News
Expert commentary on the communication events shaping business, politics, culture, and technology.
Social Media Fails: What Brands Keep Getting Wrong
Brands keep destroying their own reputations on social media, not because they post something wrong, but because they respond wrong. From tone-deaf apologies to defensive pile-ons, the pattern repeats itself across industries and company sizes. The common thread is not the original mistake. It is the communication failure that follows, turning a manageable problem into a lasting brand scar.
Poor Executive Communication Is Now a Governance Risk
Corporate boards are waking up to something communication professionals have known for years: how a CEO speaks is not a personality quirk, it is a business liability. Governance experts and institutional investors are now treating executive communication failures as a measurable risk, on par with financial misreporting or compliance gaps. The soft skill label is officially dead.
The CEO as Media Platform: What Most Leaders Get Wrong
The role of CEO has quietly shifted from boardroom operator to something closer to a media personality. Today's top executives are expected to produce content, build audiences, and speak publicly on issues far beyond their companies' quarterly results. This is not a trend. It is the new baseline for what leadership looks like, and most executives are completely unprepared for it.
Why Attenborough's Quote Is a Communication Masterclass
David Attenborough, the naturalist and documentary filmmaker who has spent decades bringing the natural world into living rooms across the globe, recently offered a deceptively simple observation: that protection follows caring, and caring follows knowledge. The quote circulated widely, picked up by major outlets including The Times of India. A man in his nineties, still shaping how millions think about the planet.
Port Lucaya Marina: When Vague Authority Kills Trust
The new owners of Port Lucaya Marina in Grand Bahama say the Grand Bahama Port Authority issued a stop-work order that shut down demolition for three days without giving a clear reason. The marina owners are calling the explanation they received vague and misleading. The delay is already pushing up project costs and disrupting their timeline.
Acas Conflict Code: Why Early Conversation Wins
Acas, the UK workplace advisory body, has opened a public consultation on updates to its code of practice for resolving workplace disputes. The proposed changes push organizations toward addressing conflict earlier, before it escalates into formal grievances or tribunal claims. The goal is to shift workplace culture away from reactive, legalistic responses and toward open, timely conversation between employees and managers.
What 'Heartbroken' Teaches Us About Crisis Communication
A beloved local garage in Watford suffered a devastating fire that tore through its premises. After a period of silence, the business finally released a public statement describing itself as "heartbroken." The fire caused significant damage, and the community had been waiting to hear from the people behind the business.
How to Set Clear Expectations That Employees Actually Understand
Businesses are waking up to a problem hiding in plain sight: most managers never actually tell employees what success looks like. A growing conversation in workplace management circles points to the gap between what leaders assume employees understand and what employees actually know. The result is frustration on both sides, missed targets, and a workforce running on guesswork instead of direction.
What Fintech Gets Wrong About Transparent Communication
A corporate communications manager at FlashChange made a public case that fintech companies need to treat transparent communication as a core business function, not a PR afterthought. His argument lands during a period of genuine economic turbulence, when customers and investors are watching fintech firms closely for signs of stability. The position is clear: how a company communicates right now will shape whether it survives what is coming.
Zeekr Lockout Crisis: The Communication Lesson
Zeekr, a Chinese electric vehicle brand, built an anti-smuggling lockout system into one of its SUVs. When a customer drove the vehicle outside China, the system activated and locked them out for 30 hours. The car worked exactly as engineered. The customer was stranded. Zeekr has since issued a public apology, but the damage to trust was already done the moment the door refused to open.
CV vs. Leadership Philosophy: What Executives Miss
Executives are increasingly finding that a traditional CV falls short when competing for top roles or board seats. A list of job titles and accomplishments tells hiring committees where you have been. It does not tell them how you think, how you decide under pressure, or what kind of culture you build around you. A new trend is pushing senior leaders to articulate their leadership philosophy in formats beyond the résumé.
Italy's Thailand Apology: A Crisis Communication Breakdown
A group of Italian teenagers caused such serious disruption during a trip to Thailand that the Italian Embassy felt compelled to issue a formal public apology on their behalf. The students were removed from the country and sent home early. The incident escalated beyond a school discipline matter into a full diplomatic and reputational crisis for Italy.
